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HYDERABAD: Veeru Kohli was born to a landless Hari. From birth to now, her journey has been a tumultuous one – Veeru was married off to a family bonded to their landlord, managed to engineer a dramatic escape along with her relatives, and is now, astonishingly, running for provincial assembly seat PS-50 in Hyderabad.

On the top of her election agenda is to end bonded slavery everywhere – a cause close to her heart considering her past. Veeru lived in a small hut in the Hoosri neighbourhood of Hyderabad, along with her family of agricultural workers. Wearing a traditional ghaghra and an armful of bangles like every other Kohli woman, the 47-year-old has come a long way, she explains.

The activist, who now works tirelessly to get prisoners freed from private jails, was born to a landless Hari, a member of the scheduled Hindu caste, in Allahdino Shah village in the tiny town of Jhudo. At the age of 16, she was married into a family bound to a landlord because of a loan that was never settled.

Veeru was unable to understand why their loan continued to increase despite the fact that the family’s earnings were constantly adjusted with the landlord. Yet, she says, her ‘benefactor’ was far better than some others.

After 17 years, the family took a loan from relatives better off than themselves, and they moved on. They got a job with another landowner in Umerkot. The family had migrated with big dreams, but the man turned out to be a tyrant, and their dream turned into a nightmare.

This new landlord too had workers bonded by never-ending debts to work on the lands. They lived in tiny huts, surrounded constantly by armed guards. The guards were no less cruel, and would ogle the female workers, often openly threatening them or beating their husbands in front of them.

In the wake of this repression, Veeru decided to change things; she could no longer stand seeing brutalities around her. Seeing her son and daughter-in-law beaten on the day of their wedding, she helped the couple run away. Soon after, she overheard him ordering the guards to bring her to his place the next day. She knew she had no option but to flee the area with her infant daughter.

Veeru escaped, got onto a bus and found herself in a village safely distant from the landlord. There she had sent her son to her brothers. Her brothers and relatives helped her to collect money owed to the landlord to get the rest of the family freed but the landlord refused to free them, claiming the debt had doubly increased.

It did not let her down. She heard about the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in Hyderabad and met its officials. They sent her to a senior police official in Umerkot to get her family freed. She was certainly aware of the threats that she could face – the landlord was influential and could have ended her life.

“Initially I was not fully prepared, but then I thought, this could be done only by me, so I went on all the way…”

Apart from eight of her family members, more than 40 other bonded peasants were imprisoned with the landlord. She went to the Umerkot police headquarters and refused to leave the place for three days, until a superintendent of police accompanied her to the virtual prison to get the labourers freed. The landlords’ guards thought it better not to resist when she came to them with a platoon of police force. Veeru’s unprecedented move came in the mid 1990s.

Following her feat, Veeru became the head of her family. It was time for her and her husband to start a new, free life. They changed location often, and finally decided to live in Hoosri, a small neighbourhood in Hyderabad district, just 15 kilometres from the city centre. Here she picks cotton and chilli in the field, while working simultaneously as a rights activist.

Unlike other Kohli women, Veeru has seen the world. She had seen most of Pakistan and been to India on peace missions. She has seen Delhi, Ajmer, Agra, Bikaner and other Indian cities. She visited Los Angeles in 2009 on receiving the Fredrick Douglas Freedom Award. She told to the audience there about some of her most horrific experiences: "The slaveholder hired men armed with guns and axes, and they guarded us the entire day," Veeru recalled. “They would fire their guns into the air at night to terrorise us so we wouldn't try to escape.”

“The slaveholder kept an eye on my daughters," Veeru said, adding that he had evil intentions with them.

Veeru’s husband died six years ago. She has 11 children – five daughters and six sons. Eight of them are married.

“Once I get elected, I will try my level best to get all bonded peasants freed. I have a dream to end slavery in Sindh for good,” she says.

On DawnNews

Comments (120) Closed

jeeo Veeru jeeo! Best of luck in your efforts. May Allah make your dream come true.

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Zafar

Apr 10, 2013 03:47pm

Brave woman! I wish she get elected.

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Anwar

Apr 10, 2013 03:48pm

She can be a much better president then Zardari.. May God help her achieve her objective and free all bonded people. Prophet of Allah abolished Slavery and continuance of it is a shame on Muslim Ummah who allow it. .

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GM

Apr 10, 2013 03:48pm

May God help her all the way.It does not matter what religion she belongs to if her intentions are good for the country.

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Tariq

Apr 10, 2013 03:57pm

When this bonded slavery will come to an end then the foundations of feudalism will also start to crumble too! Not soon enough!

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Avtar

Apr 10, 2013 03:58pm

A courageous woman who deserves to be elected. Didn`t realize these kind of relationships still exist.

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Ahmed

Apr 10, 2013 04:04pm

About time that Pakistan's criminal landlord-military-mullah alliance is broken once and for all! Only then will the real Pakistanis (from whom this lady has arisen) will become a free people.

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peace

Apr 10, 2013 04:10pm

Salute!

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wali

Apr 10, 2013 04:10pm

From which party she is contesting election? Any one please

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Khan

Apr 10, 2013 04:15pm

Insha-Allah, this is quite possible for people like her.

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Sohrab

Apr 10, 2013 04:15pm

I wish there would be more information if she is running independently or with a pary and if there is a fund for her poltical campaign, just like Imran Khan has set up to help him with his political aspirations. Who else can understand the pain of an anverage Pakistani than an average Pakistani, aka Verru Kohli. I salute you Veeru...go get them. I hope somebody will let us know how to help you in the coming days or maybe we will find you.

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babar

Apr 10, 2013 04:19pm

May God help you succeed in your dreams .The evil of slavery must end. These evil landlords must be eliminated. I hope you get all the necessary suppot you require. You will be my hero Veeru for the fights that you have to take upon. These people are evil and evil must be eliminated. I as a Muslim will support you my Hindu colleauge who has more courage and rigteousness then the Muslims living in that village. Those who remain silent are as muc guilty.

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BRR

Apr 10, 2013 04:21pm

Yes, commendable, but who will vote for a hindu women in Taliban Pakistan? Some other minorities might, and she might get through for a "reserved hindu seat", but will never get through on a non-reserved seat - she is not sadiq and ameen off course.

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munaf

Apr 10, 2013 04:23pm

All the power to sister

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Seetharam

Apr 10, 2013 04:24pm

What a brave women and what a wonderful courageous woman.
This story shows that there is still hope for Pakistan.

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Jaleel Rahman

Apr 10, 2013 04:37pm

Why the names of landowners not mentioned in the story?

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Syed A. Kazmi

Apr 10, 2013 04:42pm

All salutes to Veeru Kohli, I wish she was granted some award by Government of Pakistan and Government should have taken some steps to finish this curse of bonded labor.
This was not the Pakistan dreamed by founders, but unfortunately they all were eliminated one by one. Today if any of them becomes alive and files his papers for election, their papers will be rejected. This land has been grabbed by Mafias of Landlords, Beurocrates, Generals, Mullahs, Traders and so many others.

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Optimist

Apr 10, 2013 04:43pm

Amazing story; its great to see non muslim women also trying their best in Pakistan against all odds. The land is for all Pakistanis' regardless of their faith;

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AHA

Apr 10, 2013 04:44pm

This is slavery, practiced freely in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

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NRO

Apr 10, 2013 04:49pm

A real hero. Makes Pakistan proud.

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DrBashir123

Apr 10, 2013 04:49pm

Wow, unimaginable cruelty! These same 'influential' landlords/slave-runners then get elected and install police of their choice and hamper making any laws against them, not to mention conveniently transfer their wealth overseas to include quite possibly western countries, or at least send their children to get educated there. No wonder our country is suffering so much, there's so much injustice going on.
Western countries should put travel restrictions and freeze assets of such individuals. This is as serious, if not more, than extremism. At least the extremists don't pretend like they (landlords) do.

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Asif Kashmiri

Apr 10, 2013 04:56pm

I am proud of you. You are Pakistan.

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Indian

Apr 10, 2013 04:59pm

Hats off to this brave lady. May your tribe grow madam. May all of us be liberated not only from our physical shackles, but mental ones as well

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gangadin

Apr 10, 2013 05:04pm

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Rashid Sultan

Apr 10, 2013 05:19pm

Slavery in 2013!!! Cannot believe what I read. Is it wide spread in rural, feudal Pakistan? Can someone with more knowledge give me more information please?

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imran

Apr 10, 2013 05:19pm

almost all sindhis except a few vote for the same landlords who keep them in the shackles of slavery.this is the turning point.wake up and vote for this lady.

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Ashfaq Khan

Apr 10, 2013 05:29pm

My vote is for her.

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Schabboo Khan

Apr 10, 2013 05:32pm

More power to her. How can we support her? Does she have a campaign account?

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Amir

Apr 10, 2013 05:50pm

Veeru. you are the true daughter of Pakistan. I salute you...

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optimist

Apr 10, 2013 05:50pm

Wish she wins

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Samad Chaudhry

Apr 10, 2013 06:13pm

Russia had these bonded labours as written by Dostoevsky in Brother Karamazov
Such atrocities should be forbidden in so called democratic Pakistan in the 21st century and disobedience should have hard punishments - These landlords with private jails should be accountable to the elected Government.

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majid canada

Apr 10, 2013 06:17pm

What a courageous woman. hope she wins for betterment of pakistan.

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BK

Apr 10, 2013 06:20pm

Wish you all the best Veeru...we need people like you in the assemblies...godspeed

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sfomann

Apr 10, 2013 06:24pm

I admire your courage. We need brave and fearless people like you, regardless of their religion, caste or gender. Best of luck in the upcoming election.

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Salma

Apr 10, 2013 06:34pm

Well done and keep it up!!

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rana1

Apr 10, 2013 06:40pm

my prayers to ALLAH s.w.t,may her efforts bring the freedom.ALLAH s.w.t says "ALLAH is with those who seek to change themselves".( it dont matter which religion one belongs to)!

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Dilnawaz

Apr 10, 2013 06:45pm

She is a role model. true hero. May she win the election and lead the people to a better life.

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g.a.shirazi

Apr 10, 2013 06:46pm

Good for her. Don't give up. May Allah help you.

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Ashok Pandey

Apr 10, 2013 06:47pm

A very encouraging article for all .Hats off also to the journalist who covered this encouraging article

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U.S. Baloch

Apr 10, 2013 06:55pm

Wow. I am speechless of her courage and shameful for what is/has been happening to her and her family. Here is someone running in Pakistani Election for a noble purpose. She is fighting for a basic right (of freedom and liberty) that rest of Pakistani take for granted.
Best of luck to her in her struggle. If I can vote in Pakistan. I will vote for her.

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Ukhan

Apr 10, 2013 06:55pm

I hope she wins...

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Prasad

Apr 10, 2013 07:01pm

Great Atricle. Let there be more Verus in this world.

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Khizr

Apr 10, 2013 07:01pm

Simply an awesome story or courage and committment. Wishing you success in the elections!

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Ishrat Saleem

Apr 10, 2013 07:04pm

Very inspiring.

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Raj

Apr 10, 2013 07:20pm

Great women, who has the guts to fight the landlords.

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Samar

Apr 10, 2013 07:31pm

I am praying that she gets elected. She is inspiring.

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Mr.President

Apr 10, 2013 08:05pm

Landlords should be physically be beaten.

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Salman Cheema

Apr 10, 2013 08:26pm

God bless you Veeru, You are more a hero to me than any Pakistani Leaders. Win the election and free the bonded and save your country.

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Shaukat

Apr 10, 2013 08:26pm

What a great lady.

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khalil

Apr 10, 2013 08:31pm

Amazing story! I salute this woman for her bravery and courage. We need more examples of this kind in Pakistan to get rid of slavery and the wadera system once and for all.

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Kris

Apr 10, 2013 08:37pm

A true brave hero. My prayers are with you to win and end slavery. God bless you Veeru. I was born in Hyderabad and feel very close to her. I did not know such things are prevalent in this age of society. Shame on Government of letting things stay the way they were hundred of years back.

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Ramesh Kumar

Apr 10, 2013 08:45pm

This brave lady is as courageous as Malala and is a heroine of Pakistan. God Bless Her !

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Tariq

Apr 10, 2013 08:59pm

I wish her every success in courageous effort.

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Waseem

Apr 10, 2013 09:26pm

Truly inspiring though shameful for other citizens of the country

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Seedoo

Apr 10, 2013 09:32pm

Why is the landlord not in jail, may I ask?

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Raza

Apr 10, 2013 10:06pm

All the powers be with you Veeru! I wish my words could reach you to give you even more strength. Still I will be cheering you on and knowing that you have achieved what many like me would never achieve!!!

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klocha

Apr 10, 2013 10:22pm

Veeru, Pakistan salutes you. You are our hope and millions of other outside of the Pakistan can learn from your courage, dignity and grace. Leaders like you should be leading this country out of gloom. Blessing

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bangali

Apr 10, 2013 10:48pm

amazing story kudos to you

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Omar

Apr 10, 2013 10:51pm

What a remarkable lady!! I wish her all success. We could use more like her .....

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Amir

Apr 10, 2013 11:32pm

What a great story! I am so excited to read about Veeru Kholi. She is a true Pakistani, My hats off to her. She had the courage to stand against tyranny and aggression. A war against feudal lords. Long Live Veeru Kholi

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S. Khan

Apr 10, 2013 11:36pm

I hope one day all the bonded labourers will be able to live free in our country and the evil of bonded labor/slavery will end in our country soon. They are our fellow brothers and sisters and their suffering is our suffering. I hope our government and politicians take some action to completely eliminate this form of slavery called bonded labor in the country.

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AHMAD

Apr 10, 2013 11:36pm

What a story. Brave lady. Baravo Veeru. Good luck and best wishes.

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AHMAD

Apr 10, 2013 11:39pm

What a story. Brave lady. Baravo Veeru. Good luck and best wishes. Can someone nominate ehr for a Nobel.

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khan

Apr 10, 2013 11:46pm

All the best, the PHOOLAN DEVI of Pakistan...

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Azmat Khan

Apr 10, 2013 11:51pm

Dear Veeru I wish you a success.Best of luck

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NL

Apr 10, 2013 11:51pm

Bravo! good for her and other prisoners. May God help her to complete her noble mission...Continue Veeru with your struggle for good deed. I am a muslim, my religion teaches us to treat everyone equally and kindly. My prayers are with you.

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iqbal Khan

Apr 10, 2013 11:56pm

Go for it lady - We need people like you to bring change in this Islamic Republic of Pakistan run by people who never miss a namaz or roza but represent shaitan by their actions.
Dawn
I hope you allow my comment to go public.

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Agha Ata (USA)

Apr 11, 2013 12:03am

Veeru, join PTI. and work for a Secular Pakistan that Jinnah had dreamed of. Good Luck.

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Ali

Apr 11, 2013 12:31am

I wish I was in her constituency so I could vote for her !

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sri1ram

Apr 11, 2013 12:47am

way to go. Feudalism and such slavery need to be tackled by the Pak govt on a war footing.

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pakone

Apr 11, 2013 12:58am

Wow this is some story! God bless her and wonder why no one talks about ending endemic slavery system in Pakistan!! These waderas need to be sent to hell.

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Abul

Apr 11, 2013 01:21am

I wish you all the best and hope to see your voice heard as loud as possible in the vadera (landlord) dominant Sindh assembly. May Allah keep you and your family safe and sound.

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giansobhani

Apr 11, 2013 01:26am

A gallant lady. A real superstar. She fought against malice and injustice done to the peasants by landlords. I wish if our politicians become like this courageous women. There is no doubt we need such people to be our politicians.

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Adil Jadoon

Apr 11, 2013 01:30am

Here here for Veeru.

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Khan

Apr 11, 2013 01:52am

Good luck

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ssf

Apr 11, 2013 02:27am

Brave lady should be given all the encouragement and help so she may be successful in her goals. Pakistan should completely abolish bonded labor and landlord should be punished to the full extent of law as well as financial penalties for such practices.

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SJS

Apr 11, 2013 02:34am

Awesome!! Love it!

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Musadaq

Apr 11, 2013 02:53am

An Inspiration for all Pakistanis

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danish bawla

Apr 11, 2013 03:32am

What a shame but keep voting for Bhutto.

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kausik

Apr 11, 2013 03:37am

This is a amazing story and my hats off to veeru kohli for her brave escape and the fight against bonded labor. Dawn did a great report but one wonders the police and administration failed all those years in Pakistan and did not identify the land owner whether he was a nawab with political connection.This type of tragic situation exists all over sub continent and must be condemned and corrected with laws of land.

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munsif

Apr 11, 2013 03:47am

i know veeru kohli,. in the years 2005 , 2006 I used to sit in district bar canteen,hyderabad where she used to come and meet an advocate in connection of her struggle.

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Prof. Abdul Malik

Apr 11, 2013 03:51am

I cannot tell how good and proud I feel of the courage, determination, vision, and humanity of Veeru--a downtrodden Hindu woman in a country like Pakistan. Her story is truly a moving one. I wish there were thousands like her. May be one day, some day: "Hum daikhain gai."
Abdul Malik, 138 Thatcher Drive, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canada

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Vishnu Mahant

Apr 11, 2013 04:02am

Indian system is not quite bad as this slavery, but they too have exploitation and child labor. The whole world for the most part has changed, but there is still slavery or one kind or the other other. Sex trades are common, but bonded labor is prohibited by law. Unfortunately Pakistan never did away with Nawabs and zamindars as India did, thanks to Indira Gandhi.

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Raza

Apr 11, 2013 04:46am

May your dream come true... Best of Luck!

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Imran

Apr 11, 2013 04:55am

bravo!!! Woman Power indeed

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ali

Apr 11, 2013 05:15am

Her mission is a s important as Malala`s. All the best to her.

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Abdullah Bilour

Apr 11, 2013 05:15am

Bravo!

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Prakash Rao

Apr 11, 2013 05:28am

Great story. Obviously a determined person can fight the system even in Pakistan. The minorities in Pakistan must fight for their rights rather than escape from that country.

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Junaid

Apr 11, 2013 05:29am

Good stuff. Wishing this brave lady success !!!

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Yasir

Apr 11, 2013 05:54am

I really wish for her to be in provisional assembly.....I appreciate her and love vote for her.........I believe she will win the contest easily..........so motivating her profile

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Rohit

Apr 11, 2013 06:15am

What an inspiration to women and to welfare and social activists. Change of wind for the better in the upcoming Pak elections....May Pak be blessed with an efficient government that caters to the need of the people.

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Adnan

Apr 11, 2013 06:23am

what a powerful story! i wish this lady all the best and hope she wins!!

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havi

Apr 11, 2013 06:23am

salute for your courage

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Zafar Iqbal

Apr 11, 2013 06:31am

My vote to Veeru Kohli,I wish to get elected in her constituency .Let her dream come true.

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YouthPTI

Apr 11, 2013 07:05am

i would support her cause..There should be no slavery. Worker should get his deserved share of his labour. PTI will comein to power and will address these type of issues..Inshallah. Voite PTI..

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B. Ally

Apr 11, 2013 07:16am

What a towering character. I wish i would have been a voter in her constituency to vote for her.

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Maryam

Apr 11, 2013 07:29am

People like her are our real national heroes. We should celebrate their courage and i hope she gets elected. All my prayers with her.

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Syed Shah

Apr 11, 2013 07:30am

How long will this go on? Immediately introduce land ceiling and away with land lords and private jails. No body should have more than 56 acres of land and all excess land should distributed among the landless poor.

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MAH, Abu Dhabi

Apr 11, 2013 07:50am

All the best to Veeru ... i hope to see her in assembly this time.

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Faraz

Apr 11, 2013 07:57am

Well said Bewla bhai

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Bilal Pathan

Apr 11, 2013 08:37am

We Muslims in India get full support from majority Hindus in India. I truly hope every sensible Pakistani will support this brave lady. We the human beings need change all over the world for human dignity. Support every Kohli and Malala.
Bilal Pathan.
Currently in London (UK)

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BWC

Apr 11, 2013 08:51am

Now explain to me the importance of a higher education degree in order to run this country?

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baakhlaq

Apr 11, 2013 08:58am

Inspiring story, reviving my faith in democracy.

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K G Surendran

Apr 11, 2013 09:02am

Heart rending story. Pakistan needs more of these heroes from humble backgrounds for democracy to take firm roots. More women in seats of power could make the world a safer place.

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saadsiddiqui87

Apr 11, 2013 10:05am

Bring the Land reforms and get away with these landlords and feudal system, enough already

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wachucha

Apr 11, 2013 11:55am

I think she should join hands with NGOs already working for this cause instead of contesting elections without proper education and understanding of governance. It is a noble cause to fight for but representing a constituency requires several other skills and abilities. We must give up irrational justifications and to elect candidates.

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john

Apr 11, 2013 02:13pm

amazing!! all the best lady..may your dream come true.

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Saba

Apr 11, 2013 02:31pm

Agree with you. Its all about having the right intention and the will/determination to take action, & a little bit of luck (i.e. she was lucky the police wasn't corrupt or friends with the landlord, else she would have been shot dead).

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Ali

Apr 11, 2013 04:24pm

Nothing else but just 'GREAT'. What a shining example of human spirit and reseliance saying get up and act in a positive way. Crying and accepting circumstance as your destiny by GOD's is infact against GOD's commandment to strive in life.

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Indian

Apr 11, 2013 04:46pm

Inqelab Zindabad...

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aij

Apr 11, 2013 07:03pm

BEST OF LUCK

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Mohammed A Qayum

Apr 11, 2013 08:13pm

We yet to see a change in Pakistan. In the last 65 years South Asia has shown a great change and among the Muslim country Malaysia and Turkey and Iran is a living example. One leader can make a difference. There are always stories like one we are disusing but it has got limited scope. One a leaders take the courageous lead result are faster.

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Azmat Khan

Apr 11, 2013 10:51pm

Pathan, I support your ideas.

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Azmat Khan

Apr 11, 2013 10:56pm

Rohit, I share your thinking

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Azmat Khan

Apr 11, 2013 11:05pm

Vishnu, no doubt in several fields you are much ahead of Pakistan but in many social evils we both are at the same level

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Azmat Khan

Apr 11, 2013 11:08pm

Professor sahib, WOH SUBAH KABHI TO AEGI I support you.

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Zafar Malik

Apr 11, 2013 11:25pm

I salute Veeru for what she has achieved. She certainly is a a true leader of Pakistan. She does not have any formal education, but she has the courage and wisdom which no school in the world could teach her.

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sfomann

Apr 12, 2013 05:10am

Yes, and as you can see from the comments on this story, she is getting a great support from all us.